World · Philippines Bureau
Bukidnon honors slain eco-priest with massive tree-planting drive
The province of Bukidnon commemorated the 35th death anniversary of Father Neri Lito Satur, an environmental advocate killed by alleged illegal loggers, through province-wide reforestation efforts and memorial services. Some 800 tree seedlings were planted across the region to honor his legacy.
LSN Philippines ·
VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — Residents of Bukidnon paid tribute to environmental advocate Father Neri Lito Satur on Wednesday with an extensive tree-planting campaign, marking 35 years since his assassination at the hands of alleged members of an illegal logging syndicate.
The commemorative activities, held across multiple sites throughout the province, saw the planting of approximately 800 seedlings representing endemic, native, and exotic tree species. The initiative served as both a practical contribution to environmental conservation and a symbolic gesture honoring the slain priest's decades-long struggle to protect the region's forests and natural resources.
Father Satur's death has remained a defining moment in the Philippines' environmental movement, underscoring the dangers faced by advocates who challenge destructive logging operations. His work prior to his assassination focused on protecting Bukidnon's forest ecosystems and supporting indigenous communities dependent on the region's natural environment.
The province-wide memorial rites accompanying the tree-planting efforts reflected continued recognition of Father Satur's contributions to environmental protection and social justice in Mindanao. The activities demonstrated that three decades after his death, local communities remain committed to advancing the conservation cause for which he gave his life.